A. D. 1717. No. 387. AN Additional ACT to an Act entituled an Act to continue the currency of Thirty Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit, stamped and made by virtue of an Act of the late General Assembly of this Province, entituled an Act to raise Forces to prosecute the War against our Indian enemies, and to stamp Bills of Credit for the payment of the Army and defraying the charges of the War, and to ascertain a Fund for cancelling the same Bills, &c., ratified in open Assembly the twenty-seventh day of August, 1715. As also, to continue the currency of Five Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit, made by virtue of an Act of this present General Assembly, ratified the twenty-fourth day of March, 1715-6, entituled an Act for raising Forces to prosecute the War against our Indian enemies, and to stamp Bills of Credit for payment of arrears due to the soldiers enlisted in the Army, &c. As also, to stamp the sum of Fifteen Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit, for supporting and carrying on the present War against our Indian enemies and defraying the charges of the same; and also to raise and levy the sum of Ninetyfive Thousand Pounds, that is to say, Thirty-five Thousand Pounds for this present year, one thousand seven hundred and sixteen, and the sum of Thirty Thousand Pounds per annum for the two succeeding years, of and from the Lands and Negroes of the inhabitants of this Province, for the paying off and discharging the publick debts already contracted, by reason of the present Indian War or otherwise; and in order to sink the several sums of Thirty Thousand Pounds, Five Thousand Pounds, and Fifteen Thousand Pounds, stamped and to be stamped in Bills of Credit as aforesaid, and for other the purposes hereinafter mentioned, and for apportioning the sum of Sixteen Thousand Pounds, part of the aforesaid Tax, on the merchants and other inhabitants living and residing within the limits of the Town Plat of Charlestown, ratified the thirtieth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and sixteen. Preamble. WHEREAS, by an Act of the General Assembly of this Province, duly ratified in open Assembly the thirtieth day of June, 1716, entituled an Act to continue the currency of Thirty Thousand Pounds in bills of credit, stamped and made by virtue of an Act of the late General Assembly of this Province, entituled an Act to raise forces to prosecute the War against our Indian enemies, and to stamp bills of credit for the payment of the Army and defraying the charges of the war, and to ascertain a fund for cancelling the same bills, &c., ratified in open Assembly the twentyseventh day of August, one thousand seven hundred and fifteen; as also to continue the currency of Five Thousand Pounds in bills of credit made by virtue of an Act of this present General Assembly, ratified the twenty-fourth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and fifteen, entituled an Act for raising forces to prosecute the war against our Indian enemies, and to stamp bills of credit for payment of arrears due to the soldiers enlisted in the army, &c.; as also to stamp the sum of fifteen thousand pounds in bills of credit, for supporting and carrying on the present war against our Indian enemies and defraying the charges of the same; and also to raise and levy the sum of ninety-five thousand pounds (that is to say) thirty-five thousand pounds for the present year one thousand seven hundred and sixteen, and the sum of thirty thousand pounds per annum for the two succeeding years, of and from the lands and negroes of the inhabitants of this Province, for the paying off and defraying the publick debts already contracted or to be contracted by reason of the present Indian war, or otherwise; and in order to sink the said several sums of thirty thousand pounds, five thousand pounds and fifteen thousand pounds, stamped and to be stamped in bills of credit as aforesaid, and for other the purposes hereinafter mentioned, and for apportioning the sum of sixteen thousand pounds, part of the aforesaid tax, on the merchants and other inhabitants living and residing within the limits of the town plat of Charlestown; amongst other things, it is enacted, that the sum of ninety-five thousand pounds be raised and levied upon the lands and negroes of the inhabitants planters, residing in the several counties of this Province, and upon the estates of the merchants and other inhabitants in Charlestown, at such days and times, and after such manner and form, and by such persons as are therein mentioned and directed, that is to say, thirty-five thousand pounds, on or before the second Tuesday in March, 1716-7; thirty thousand pounds on or before the second Tuesday in March, 1717-8, and thirty thousand pounds on or before the second Tuesday in March, 1718-9; and by the said Act, it is further enacted and declared, that the said sum of thirty-five thousand pounds, ordered to be paid on the said second Tuesday in March, 1716-7, shall be applied, fifteen thousand pounds, part thereof, towards paying of the orders mentioned in the first course of payment with interest, and fifteen thousand pounds, other part thereof, towards cancelling the bills of credit stamped by the said Act, and the remaining five thousand pounds to be paid to the commissioners for managing the Indian trade; but by one other Act of Assembly, duly ratified in open Assembly the fifteenth day of December, 1716, entituled an Act for appointing rangers, to guard the frontiers of this Province against the incursions of our Indian enemies, and for making further provision for the garrisons of Port Royal and Savano Town, amongst other things, it is enacted and declared, that the said sum of fifteen thousand pounds, which by the first recited Act was applied to the cancelling the said fifteen thousand pounds in bills of credit, should be paid into the custody of Ralph Izard, Esq. to be applied to such uses as is thereafter directed; any thing in the first recited Act, to the contrary notwithstanding; so that the said fifteen thousand pounds in bills of credit, was not sunk and cancelled, according to the direction of the first recited Act of the thirtieth of June, 1716: And whereas, it is found by experience that the multiplicity of the bills of credit hath been the cause of the ruin of our trade and commerce, and hath been the great evil of this Province, and that it ought with all expedition to be remedied: And whereas there is now outstanding, in bills of credit, over and above the bills commonly called the Bank bills, the sum of thirty thousand pounds, the sum of five thousand pounds, the sum of fifteen thousand pounds, and the sum of four thousand pounds, commonly called the Tuscorora bills, in all the sum of fifty-four thousand pounds: And whereas, by the first recited Act of the thirtieth of June, 1716, it is also enacted and declared, that the sum of thirty thousand pounds, thereby intended to be raised for the year one thousand seven hundred and seven A. D. 1717. A. D. 1717. teen, shall be paid and applied by the commissioners for that purpose named, towards cancelling and sinking the orders and the interest thereon, which shall become due by the second course of payment, and the residue, if any, be towards cancelling and sinking the bills of credit of thirty thousand pounds, stamped and made by virtue of the Act of the twenty seventh of August, one thousand seven hundred and fifteen: And whereas the said orders, and the interest thereon, doth amount unto the sum of twenty thousand pounds, so that upon the payment of the tax of thirty thousand pounds, at March next ensuing, there will be cancelled and sunk of the said bills of credit, but the sum of ten thousand pounds: And whereas it is the resolution of both Houses of Assembly, that all the above mentioned bills of credit, (the Bank bills only excepted,) amounting unto the said sum of fifty-four thousand pounds, shall be sunk by, on or before the second Tuesday in March, which will be in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, that is to say, twenty-four thousand pounds at March next, and the other thirty thousand pounds the March following, according to the directions of the above recited Act of the 30th of June, 1716. And therefore, in order to cancel and sink the said sum of twenty-four thousand pounds in bills of credit, by March next, and for the paying of the passages of white people, that are already come, and for those expected to come and settle in this Province, it will be necessary that the sum of seventeen thousand pounds be raised by an additional tax, to be paid at the same time, that is to say, fourteen thousand one hundred and sixty-seven pounds on the lands and negroes of the inhabitants, planters and others, residing, living and interested in the several counties of this Province; and two thousand eight hundred thirty-three pounds, upon the several estates, real and personal, stocks and abilities, of the several merchants and other inhabitants living or residing within the limits of the town plat in Charlestown; I. Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency John Lord Carteret, Palatine, £17,000 to be and the rest of the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of this raised. Province, by and with the advice and consent of the rest of the members of the General Assembly, now met at Charlestown for the South and West part of this Province, and by the authority of the same, That over and above the said sum of thirty thousand pounds appointed to be raised for this present year one thousand seven hundred and seventeen, to be paid on or before the second Tuesday in March next, that there be raised by an additional tax the sum of seventeen thousand pounds, that is to say, the sum of fourteen thousand one hundred sixty-s -seven pounds, on the lands and negroes of the inhabitants, planters and others, residing, living and interested in the several counties of this Province, and two thousand eight hundred thirty-three pounds, upon the several estates, real and personal, stocks and abilities of the several merchants and other inhabitants living and residing within the limits of the town plat in Charlestown ; which said sum of seventeen thousand pounds, being the additional tax to be paid on or before the said second Tuesday in March next, shall be inquired of by the same inquisitors, and assessed by the same assessors, and paid to and recovered by the same commissioners, as are appointed and impowered thereunto, by the before-recited Act of the thirtieth of June, 1716, intituled an Act to continue the currency of thirty thousand pounds in Bills of Credit, &c., or any other Act explanatory of the same and now of force, under the same pains and penalties therein mentioned, and after such form, manner, times of inquiring, assessing and other methods, as fully as if the said Act for continuing the currency of thirty thousand pounds in bills of credit, &c., or any Act explanatory of the same, were here inserted, so far as relates to the duties and offices of the A. D. 1717. assesors, inquisitors or commissioners therein named. II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said commissioners in the before recited Act named and appointed, and unto the aforesaid Application of whom the said additional tax of seventeen thousand pounds is to be paid £17,000. on or before the second Tuesday in March next, shall apply the sum of fourteen thousand pounds in sinking and cancelling the said bills of credit, and to no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever; and also the sum of three thousand pounds in the paying of the passages of the white people already arrived, and for those expected to come and inhabit in this Province, and to no other use whatsoever; which said three thousand pounds shall be paid by them, by order of the Governour and Council, to such person or persons importing white people, upon their indorsing over the bonds or other written contracts or agreements given by such white people for their said passages, for the use of the publick; which bonds and written agreements shall be payable and recoverable by the publick Receiver in four years after the arrival of such white passengers; and all such moneys as shall be paid in and recovered by the publick Receiver, shall forever hereafter be appropriated to the paying of the passages of white people, and to no other use whatsoever. An additional tax of £5000. III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That over and above the said sum of thirty thousand pounds, appointed to be raised for the year one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, that there be raised by an additional tax, the sum of four thousand one hundred sixty-seven pounds, on the lands and negroes of the inhabitants, planters and other persons, residing, living and interested in the sev eral counties of this Province, and eight hundred thirty-three pounds upon the several estates, real and personal, stocks and abilities of the several merchants and other inhabitants living and residing within the limits of the town plat in Charlestown; which said sum of five thousand pounds, being the additional tax to be paid on or before the said second Tuesday in March, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, shall be inquired of by the same inquisitors, and assessed by the same assessors, and paid to and recovered by the same commissioners, as are appointed and impowered thereunto by the before recited Act of the 30th of June, 1716, intituled an Act to continue the currency of thirty thousand pounds in Bills of Credit, &c., or in any other Act explanatory of the same and now of force, under the same pains and penalties therein mentioned, and after such form, manner, times of inquiring, assessing and other methods, as fully as if the said Act for continuing the currency of thirty thousand pounds in Bills of Credit, &c., or any other Act explanatory of the same, were here inserted, so far as relates to the duties and offices of the assessors, inquisitors or commissioners therein named. IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said commissioners, in the before recited Act named and appointed, the sum raised. Application of and unto whom the said additional tax of five thousand pounds is to be paid on or before the second Tuesday in March, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, shall apply the sum of five hundred pounds to the urgent and pressing contingent charges of the war, to be deposited by the said commissioners in the hands of Captain Anthony Matthews, Mr. Andrew Allen, and Mr. Robert Tradd, or any two of them, to be thence drawn out by order of the right honourable the Governour, by the advice and consent of his Council; and the sum of four thousand five hundred pounds, being the A. D. 1717. remaining part of the said sum of five thousand pounds, in discharging such orders as are or shall be drawn on the publick Receiver by the commissioners appointed for auditing the publick accounts, with the interest thereon, which interest shall commence January the first, one thousand seven hundred and sixteen; and what remains shall be applied in discharging such other debts as shall be due from the publick, at any time before the ratification of this Act, and to no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever; and the said sum shall be deposited by the said commissioners in the hands of the publick Receiver, to be paid by him to the said use, and to no other use whatsoever. Further time allowed to the Enquirers. Inhabitants to give in the particulars of their estates on oath. ments. V. Whereas, the time limited for the inquirors of the several parishes in this Province, appointed by the Act commonly called the Tax Act, to make their several returns, is grown very short, and so far lapsed that they cannot well, by the time in the said Act inserted, complete their said returns, as is in and thereby required of them; and as a longer time is absolutely necessary to be allowed the said inquirors for that purpose; Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said inquirors be allowed further time, that is to say, until the last Tuesday iu January next, to make their returns unto the assessors appointed by the said Act, under the same penalties and forfeitures for neglect of their duty therein, as are in the said Act mentioned, or in any other Act explanatory of the same, any thing herein to the contrary contained in any wise notwithstanding. VI. Whereas, by means of sickness, or other accident, it may so happen that two or more of the inquirors cannot go together to take an account of the persons estates in their several parishes or precincts, Be it therefore enacted, that it shall and may be lawful for any one inquisitor, by the Tax Act appointed, after the ratification of this Act, to take an account, upon oath, from the several persons in each respective parish or precinct in this Province, of the particulars of their estates, as is in the said Act directed and appointed; any thing therein contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Repeal of some two last clauses contained in the Act of Assembly intituled an Act for former enact- appointing Rangers to guard the frontiers of this Province against the incursions of our Indian enemies, and for making further provision for the garrisons at Port Royal and Savano town, duely ratified in open Assembly the fifteenth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and sixteen, relating to a tax of fifteen thousand pounds, to be raised and paid on the second Tuesday in March, which will be in the year one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, as is therein directed, shall be repealed, annulled, revoked, and for ever made void; and the said two clauses are hereby repealed and made void, any thing in the said Act to the contrary whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding. Ratified in open Assembly, the 11th day of December, A. D. 1717. ROBERT JOHNSON, ALEXANDER SKEENE, THOMAS BROUGHTON, FRANCIS YONGE. Repealed by section 37 of Act of February 20, 1718-9, for raising the sum of £70,000. |